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    Family Legal Services

Relationship breakdown is difficult enough. Where it brings with it issues about children or money, guidance from an outstanding legal team can make all the difference.

Our family lawyers

We are one of the top family law teams in the UK and internationally. 

Our approach is humane, sophisticated and pragmatic. We understand the needs of people with complex lives and many of our clients are from international families. They often have significant assets and several are in the public eye. We have pioneered a cross-disciplinary approach to family law, and work alongside our experts in tax and trusts, trust disputes, corporate law, immigration, property disputes and other areas of law to provide you with a smart and bespoke service.

Our work is not just about what happens once a relationship, be it marriage, civil partnership or unmarried cohabitation, breaks down. It is ever more important to plan for the future and we can advise you on a great range of relationship agreements and wealth preservation strategies.

Flexibility is key to our approach. With a leading family mediation practice as well as arbitrators and collaboratively trained lawyers, we are not afraid to recommend innovative ways to resolve disputes. Litigation should usually be the last resort, but we protect our clients’ interests fiercely - and successfully - when court proceedings are required.

We will always give you clear, realistic advice. We tell you what you need to know, even if it is not what you want to hear. We listen to your concerns and priorities and help you find the solution that works best for you, however difficult the circumstances. We are on your side. 

Our family law services include:

Recognition

As a Firm, they are at the top of their game and are as good as you will find.

Legal 500 UK, 2024, Family Law

Charles Russell Speechlys' global coverage is a main indicator for their top ranking."

Chambers High Net Worth 2023

Charles Russell Speechlys is a very solid team. They are trustworthy, decent to deal with and settlement-focused."

Chambers High Net Worth 2023

Charles Russell Speechlys is first-rate at both the partner and associates level, their service is at the Rolls-Royce end of the spectrum." 

Chambers High Net Worth 2023

They have a real strength in depth. They have many strings to their bow and are well integrated to other practice areas."

Chambers High Net Worth 2022

Membership

Connecting you with our membership of 6,500 family law professionals

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Our awards

Meet our family lawyers

Our family law services

Adoption Legal Services

Adoption

We help parents adopting children across borders, including advising on the cross-border recognition of adoption orders. 

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Arbitration Legal Services

Arbitration

Arbitration is increasingly popular as an alternative means to resolve family disputes, both in respect of financial and children matters.

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Children & Parental Disputes Legal Services

Children & Parental Disputes

We are well positioned to advise you on the best options for your children’s particular circumstances.

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Divorce & Finance Legal Services

Divorce & Finances

Our family law specialists give clear advice on all financial aspects of divorce.

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Family Mediation & Dispute Resolution Legal Services

Family Mediation & Dispute Resolution

We advise on and offer several forms of dispute resolution, with each having their own merits.

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International Family Legal Services

International Family Law

No matter where you are based, our approach is supportive with a fast turnaround time where required. 

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Parentage, Fertility & Surrogacy Legal Services

Parentage, Fertility Law & Surrogacy

We care about families in all their forms. Problematically for families, the law on parentage does not join up internationally. 

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Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements & Wealth Protection Legal Services

Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements & Wealth Protection

We are recognised as being experts in the field of negotiating and drafting marital agreements.

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Unmarried Couples & Financial Claims for Children Legal Services

Unmarried Couples & Financial Claims for Children

Our role is to advise you on how to obtain the best outcome, irrespective of your situation

Find out more

Our thinking

  • International Relocation: The Parent Trap 25 years on ...

    Joshua Green

    Quick Reads

  • FT Wealth quotes Sarah Anticoni and Vanessa Duff on prenups to protect family wealth

    Sarah Anticoni

    In the Press

  • Top Tips to Building your Brand - Women in Chancery

    Katelyn Silver

    Quick Reads

  • The impact of disputes concerning ultimate entitlement on interim maintenance applications and legal services orders

    Sophia Leeder

    Insights

  • Potential parental disputes about school fees should a Labour government add VAT to fees

    Sarah Jane Boon

    Quick Reads

  • Labour government - potential change to cohabitation laws?

    Sarah Anticoni

    Quick Reads

  • South China Morning Post quotes Lisa Wong on a high-profile ruling in Hong Kong relating to RIVF

    Lisa Wong

    In the Press

  • Caring across borders: The UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and the global nature of parental responsibility

    James Elliott-Hughes

    Quick Reads

  • Succession planning considerations for the 21st century

    Oliver Little

    Insights

  • Paul McCarthy writes for Today's Family Lawyer on surrogacy and immigration law

    Paul McCarthy

    In the Press

  • Game of Homes: Transatlantic Disputes

    Cara Fung

    Quick Reads

  • Felicity Chapman writes for Insider Media on alternatives to court for divorcing business owners

    Felicity Chapman

    In the Press

  • Hong Kong’s top court makes declaration in favour of same-sex partnerships

    Lisa Wong

    Insights

  • Vanessa Duff writes for Wealth Briefing on how the Bank of Mum and Dad can help young people get on the property ladder

    Vanessa Duff

    In the Press

  • Sarah Higgins and David Wells-Cole write for Wealth Briefing on the pitfalls of using unregulated legal services

    Sarah Higgins

    In the Press

  • Back to School: How should recently separated parents face the new term?

    David Hansford

    Quick Reads

  • South China Morning Post quotes Lisa Wong on Hong Kong's surrogacy rules

    Lisa Wong

    In the Press

  • The Family Fund: Bank of Mum & Dad 2.0

    Vanessa Duff

    Quick Reads

  • The Financial Times quotes James Riby on London’s reputation as ‘divorce capital’ of the world

    James Riby

    In the Press

  • Inside Britney and Sam’s $10m prenup

    Shivi Rajput

    Quick Reads

  • Mind your Language !

    Vanessa Duff

    Quick Reads

  • Oops!....I did it again - Britney's third divorce

    Charlotte Posnansky

    Quick Reads

  • NSPCC urges Government to protect children from domestic abuse during holidays

    Shivi Rajput

    Quick Reads

  • Record success for Charles Russell Speechlys in Chambers High Net Worth 2023 directory

    Piers Master

    News

  • Recognising financial abuse in a relationship

    Vanessa Duff

    Quick Reads

  • Top 10 things you may not know about Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

    Vanessa Duff

    Insights

  • Million Dollar Footballer With No Assets?

    David Carver

    Quick Reads

  • eprivateclient quotes Sarah Higgins and David Wells-Cole on the CMA’s investigation into will-writing and quickie divorce legal services

    Sarah Higgins

    In the Press

  • Domestic abuse orders: worth the paper they’re written on?

    Lydia Hutchinson

    Insights

  • Parental responsibility as a form of coercive control

    Lydia Hutchinson

    Insights

  • Are Parental Rights Equal for All Families?

    Vanessa Duff

    Quick Reads

  • Money Talk interviews Lisa Wong on wealth protection and preservation in marriage and divorce

    Lisa Wong

    In the Press

  • Atonement and post separation endeavour: wife keeps £1m gift from husband after his affair and will receive a share of his business’ future profits

    Sophia Leeder

    Quick Reads

  • Michael Wells-Greco writes for Wealth Briefing on domestic surrogacy law reform

    Michael Wells-Greco

    In the Press

  • Making BitCoin a BitClearer

    Charlotte Posnansky

    Quick Reads

  • Can a financial claim in divorce proceed after the death of either party?

    Sarah Higgins

    Quick Reads

  • Second Time Weddings - Family Law (I) dos and don’ts

    Miranda Fisher

    Quick Reads

  • World Refugee Day 2023

    Sarah Higgins

    Insights

  • Charles Russell Speechlys strengthens its international credentials with the appointment of Vanessa Duff

    Vanessa Duff

    News

  • Tina Turner: an inspiration praised for turning the tables on domestic violence

    Matt Foster

    Quick Reads

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